Tough PVC Cases for Anything

Introduction: Tough PVC Cases for Anything

Ever need a case for something that you didn't want broken? Like making things that are simple, yet indestructible?

It is very simple to make a very tough case out of some PVC or ABS pipe.
I made a gift for my friend, but it was pretty delicate, so I needed a case to put it in. Looking at the junk lying around my work table, I devised this and built in in about an hour.

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Tools:

Saw, either a hack saw, hand saw, or reciprocating saw.

Ruler and marker to make straight lines.

Drill

Rivet gun

Hot glue

Knife

Materials:

PVC or ABS pipe, mine was 2-inch diameter, but whatever works

Tough foam, or two end caps to fit the pipe

Cloth-optional

Short screws or rivets

two small hinges

Step 2: Cut the Pipe

Cut a piece of pipe to the desired length.

Draw a straight line down the length of it, as shown.

Cut on that line.

Go to the exact opposite side of the pipe, and do the same.

Now, you should have two equal half-shells of pipe.

Step 3: Hinges

Tape the two shells back together. Get your hinges and mark where you want them to go, and the holes for them. Remove the hinges and tape, then drill the holes.

Attach the hinges with the pin barrels facing outward, using rivets (like I did) or bolts.

Step 4: Ends

Cut four half-circle pieces of EVA foam, or really anything else that works. Shape them, and glue them in the ends to make end caps.

I just hot-glued mine, but epoxy is a lot tougher.

Step 5: "Latch"

Cut a piece of the same pipe you used for the case, about an inch and a half long.

Cut an ark out of the side of this, about a quarter of the total circumference is about the least you can go with. Remember, the less you cut out, the harder it will be to snap the latch on and off.

Step 6: Acessorize

I lined mine with black vinyl. You don't need to. I also sanded the surface with high-grit sandpaper, to give it a slightly better look.

That would also work well. I used foam because I had limited time and materials. If I make another I will use wood. You could also use PVC end caps to make the ends, then cut them too. I really like your sketches, they get the ideas across very clearly.

Lol. Havent done these things but really love to try it. Just my 2 cents. Ive seen on the net about this but using endcap at one end with female adapter and plug at the other end. So if youre the survivalist types, the setup will create a waterproof container for caching your stuff. wait why not i try find it again. this is the nearest of whats in my mind http://modernsurvivalonline.com/creating-a-survival-cache/

Excellent idea! I'm may try to make one using a living hinge.... see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_hinge... for a more streamlined effect and possible added stability without alignment issues, etc... with hinges and hardware.

One possible addition would be to use expanding foam insulation to make a custom shaped insert inside the tube, so the object isn't rattling around inside the case. Like in this project for making custom tool drawers: http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=4770.0

I have a little problem, I like to go fishing in my free time.and I use very fragile fishing floats. They break very fast, so if I make a case for the floats with pvc of 0.6 inch. that would be very great! I'll try it for sure.

what I will add to your design are holes, around 10 I think, So the I can put the floats in the case when they are still wet, and thanks to the holes the floats can dry. the foam to close the sides will stay, so I can put thee hook of the fishing tackle into that foam,then i can wrap the rest of the fishing line around the pvc pipe.

I don't know if you mentioned this but I recently read of an easy way to draw a straight line down a tube. Get a piece of angle iron or anything bent at an angle. Lay your tube into the channel and you can draw a straight line down the length of it. Works great.